1,500-year-old landfill discovered in US Virgin Islands

1,500-year-old landfill discovered in US Virgin Islands
By The Associated Press
February 13, 2013

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, Virgin Islands - Crews renovating a public square in the U.S. Virgin Islands have discovered a 1,500-year-old landfill stuffed with shells, bones and pottery fragments, the government said Wednesday.

A team of specialized archaeologists will arrive soon to further excavate the pre-Columbian site, located in the capital of Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas, said Public Works Commissioner Darryl Smalls.

The landfill, historically known as a midden, features hundreds of sea snail shells and bones from fish, birds, rodents and marine mammals.

"From this, the archaeologists can learn about what the first people of Charlotte Amalie ate, their environment and life," Smalls said. "This will be our only chance to connect to the people who lived here 1,500 years ago."